Kate Sinclair

Kate Sinclair BA (Hons) GradDipInfoStud AALIA

Recipient of the Metcalfe Award 2005

Since graduating in 1999, Kate has been an active professional, and an active member of ALIA. As the law liaison librarian in the Law Library of Flinders University, Kate has displayed a willingness to explore and develop innovative ways of providing services. These include developing interactive web-delivered information literacy tutorials on practical legal research methods; being awarded, along with two law academic staff members, a University Teaching and Learning Grant to further develop OnRoute software for more general application in teaching law; maintaining the policing component of the Australian WebLaw gateway; initiating a monthly e-mail bulletin to law staff promoting new resources in the collection and initiating an e-newsletter service from the Law Library to law staff.

Kate's interaction with staff and students is outstanding. She has displayed a strong and effective commitment to customer service that has enhanced services provided by the library to an exceptionally high degree. She has the ability to make those that she interacts with feel important - no matter how busy she is. Kate was recognised for her excellent customer service when she was mentioned in the Flinders University Library Rodski Survey of 2003, a survey that extended beyond users of the Law Library to users of Flinders University Library as a whole.

Kate is a co-founding member of the South Australian Library and Information Network (SALIN), an independent, networking group for the new generation of library and information professionals. SALIN was developed to encourage new graduates to take an active role in their professional development, to identify gaps in their professional knowledge, contacts and experience and to look at ways to address these issues. Her work with SALIN demonstrates her ongoing commitment to new professionals entering the library and information sector. Kate has acted on that commitment in practical ways through her involvement in setting up local networks for new graduates and new entrants to the profession, embracing opportunities to speak with students and encourage networking, and working alongside local ALIA groups to offer professional development opportunities in South Australia and bring SALIN and ALIA into partnership.

Kate recognises the vital role professional associations play in a career and supports this through her extensive work within ALIA. Her roles have included convenor of the ALIA Specials SA Group, joint-convenor of ALIA-SA Group, and her current role as a member of the ALIA New Generation Policy and Advisory Group. Kate was the convenor of the highly-successful 2nd ALIA New Librarians' Symposium held in Adelaide during 2004. The excellent local profile and success of the Symposium is due to her ability to lead a team of busy professionals through a long-term project requiring constant motivation and a high degree of organisational expertise.

Kate shows great passion and initiative in seeking opportunities to bring together kindred spirits, professional colleagues, and new members of the profession. She contributes an enormous amount of her personal time to her profession and inspires those around her to perform to the highest standards. She has a deep and genuine interest in the issues affecting the profession and is a significant model to those new to the profession. She is acknowledged by her colleagues as a present and future leader.

Kate Sinclair's achievements and her outstanding professionalism make her a worthy recipient of the Metcalfe Award for high achievement by a personal member of ALIA in their first five years of practice in libraries and information services.